Show ContentsHobb History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Hobb

What does the name Hobb mean?

The name Hobb is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from the son of Robert. 1 2

"Hob, patronymic Hobbs and Hobson. Naturally these surnames have left many descendants. Owing to its popularity Hob became the everyday term for a country clown." 3

Early Origins of the Hobb family

The surname Hobb was first found in Shropshire where the name first entry was as a forename as in Hobbe Litel, who was listed in the Pipe Rolls of 1176. A few years later, Hobb(e) (with no forename) was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls for Northumberland in 1198, the Pipe Rolls for Yorkshire and the Curia Regis Rolls for Worcester in 1205. These entries may be of the same person, but that is doubtful. Moving on, Osbert, Ralph Hobbe was found in the Pipe Rolls for Rutland in 1204, and again in the Pipe Rolls for Warwickshire in 1230. Isabella Hobbes was in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcester in 1327. 4

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: Agnes Hobbis, Huntingdonshire; and John Hobbe, Oxfordshire. 3

In Somerset, John Hobbes and William Hobbeson, were both listed 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edward III's reign). 5

Later, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed: Willelmus Hobbes; Petrus Hobbeson; Willelmus Hobbeson; and Robertus Hobson. 3

Early History of the Hobb family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hobb research. Another 85 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1198, 1529, 1532, 1538, 1569, 1588 and 1679 are included under the topic Early Hobb History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hobb Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Hobb include Hobbs, Hobs, Hobbes, Hobis, Hopp, Hoppe, Hopps and many more.

Early Notables of the Hobb family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Robert Hobbes (d. 1538), the last abbot of the Cistercian abbey of Woburn in Bedfordshire, held the office in 1529. "Hobbes was summoned to convocation in November 1529, and in the following January r...
  • Thomas Hobbs (also spelled Hobbes) (1588-1679), English philosopher, pioneer of modern political science and at one time a mathematics tutor to Charles II. He was the second son of Thomas Hobbes, vica...


Hobb migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Hobb Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Thomas Hobb, who landed in Maryland in 1673 6
Hobb Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. Key Hobb, (b. 1870), aged 34, Cornish smith travelling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 18th September 1904 en route to Sutter Creek, California, USA 7

Hobb migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hobb Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Alie Hobb, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
  • James Hobb, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1750

Hobb migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Hobb Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • William Hobb, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Ascendant" in 1849 8
  • Mr. William Hobb, (b. 1836), aged 21, Cornish agricultural labourer travelling aboard the ship "Tartar" arriving in New South Wales, Australia on 27th July 1857 9

Contemporary Notables of the name Hobb (post 1700) +

  • Robin Hobb (b. 1952), pseudonym of Margaret Astrid Lindholm Ogden, an American fantasy fiction writer, best known for her books set in the Realm of the Elderlings


  1. Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
  2. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  5. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  6. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  7. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  8. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The ASCENDANT 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Ascendant.htm
  9. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nsw_1850_59.pdf


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